麦克莱恩回顾20年来为Phi Theta Kappa服务的经历

Emilie Jenson, Public Information Office
12/15/2023

When Samantha McClain joined the admissions staff at Iowa Central in 2003, a second responsibility came along with the job: to help oversee the college’s chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society.

作为PTK的校友，麦克莱恩对荣誉协会很熟悉，她希望看到爱荷华中心分会成长壮大，成为一个更引人注目的学生组织。

“When I started at Iowa Central the current advisor was retiring and a group of us came on board to run it,” said McClain. “At the time it was more of a recognition than an organization.”

In 20 years, McClain’s job title has changed a few times, and she is presently the bookstore manager. 有一件事没有改变，那就是她在爱荷华中心与Phi Theta Kappa及其成员的关系。 她最近获得了爱荷华中央董事会和Phi Theta Kappa国际的认可，以表彰她多年来对该组织的服务。

McClain said one aspect she takes pride in is the students’ willingness to lead and take ownership of Iowa Central PTK’s projects.

“As their advisor, I oversee what they do, but it is very student driven,” said McClain. “Everything is planned and organized by the students. Being student run is how they develop leadership skills.”

Phi Theta Kappa有四个基石：领导力、奖学金、服务和奖学金。 为了符合PTK的资格，学生必须完成12个学分，并且平均成绩最低为3.5分。

“The students choose projects that fall into those categories,” said McClain. “Service and fellowship are what we do the most. Fellowship nights bring members together to get to know each other.”

Iowa Central’s PTK chapter has organized a wide variety of service projects over the years from gathering items to send care packages to military troops serving overseas, collecting donations of pet supplies for the Almost Home Humane Society, blanket making and volunteering with activities at local nursing homes.

多年来，麦克莱恩与成员一起参加了几次旅行和领导力研讨会，并协助他们申请PTK奖学金。

“There are so many scholarship opportunities available through Phi Theta Kappa,” she said. “I love helping them get scholarships.”

麦克莱恩的另一个亮点是一年一度的春季入会典礼，学生们会被授予他们的礼物，背诵PTK誓词，成为Phi Theta Kappa的正式成员，但她觉得最有意义的是了解学生，看着他们成长为领导者。

“Getting to know the students on a personal level; encouraging them and seeing them develop leadership skills and carry out projects is absolutely what I love about it most,” said McClain.

为了表彰她的20年，麦克莱恩获得了一张证书，并将在位于密西西比州杰克逊的Phi Theta Kappa国际总部获得一块刻有她名字的砖。